U.S. Supreme Court will review New Jersey sports betting case

New Jersey’s bid to have the US Supreme Court hear its appeal on the constitutionality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has been successful despite a recommendation that the court decline to hear the case by Acting US Solicitor General, Jeffrey Wall, earlier this month (see previous reports).

It’s welcome news for the State which has been embroiled in a five-year-long battle to have PASPA repealed in order for the State to legalise state-sanctioned sports betting but all efforts have been thwarted thus far by opposition from major American sports leagues.

“I applaud the Supreme Court for taking on this case and potentially resolving a long history of hypocrisy and unfairness in federal law,” Congressman Frank Pauline, Jr., the author of two bills supporting the legalisation of sports betting in New Jersey, said.

“Rather than continuing to allow criminal and offshore entities to reap the benefits of illegal gaming, there is now an opportunity for the Supreme Court to allow the democratic process in New Jersey to appropriately regulate sports gaming.”

“It is time that it was recognised that Paspa has failed as a law,” Philip Bowcock, chief executive officer of William Hill told ESPN. “We believe it is right that all parties, including the American sports leagues, now come together and establish a new framework of regulation.”

Industry observers predict the Supreme Court will hear the case in October 2017, a development which will undoubtedly be followed with keen interest by many US States other than New Jersey.

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